Nashville Steam Acquires Historic Monument From Metro Parks
Memorial To the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway Will
Accompany Historic Steam Locomotive No. 576
June 25, 2026
For Immediate Release
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – The Nashville Steam Preservation Society (NSPS), in partnership with the Metro Parks Department, is proud to announce the acquisition of the historic railroad monument previously located in Nashville’s Centennial Park. The monument, which stood in the park since 1962, commemorates the founding and history of the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway (NC&StL) — the first railroad company chartered by the State of Tennessee in 1845.
“Following the merger with the Louisville & Nashville (L&N) Railroad in 1957, the L&N erected the monument to honor Nashville’s hometown railroad and its employees,” said NSPS Vice President Joey Bryan. “It was placed beside steam locomotive No. 576 — which also operated on the NC&StL — as a fitting tribute to the railroad that helped shape the region’s economy.”
The memorial is a recreation of the doorway of the NC&StL’s former general office building at 930 Broadway, across from Union Station, complete with the original, one-of-a-kind terra cotta transom that features two steam locomotives and the company’s iconic bowtie logo. The NC&StL was also the major sponsor of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition and helped establish the park as Nashville’s premiere park and public gathering space.
Relocating the monument aligns with the current phase of the Centennial Park Master Plan. “Although, it’s bittersweet to lose the remaining physical vestiges of the NC&StL Railway, we know it’s in the very best hands to store the monument and put it back together,” said Monique Odom, Metro Parks Director. “While we know there are many Nashville natives and longtime residents that will miss the nostalgia of the monument and No. 576, we are confident that the addition of the new pavilion and cafe will have a wonderful impact on the park”. The bronze plaque originally affixed to the monument, which has been in storage, has also been transferred to NSPS.
Crews carefully disassembled and relocated the monument and the pieces will be stored in a secure location until a permanent home can be established. An anonymous donor and the NC&StL Preservation Society have provided funding to help cover the fees of removing the monument from the park. Nashville Steam is asking for additional donations to help offset the remaining costs.
“One of our long-term goals is to construct a facility and museum for No. 576,” Bryan added. “The doorway monument will become a centerpiece of that site, helping to tell the story of the NC&StL and the people who kept it running. The locomotive and monument stood side-by-side in Centennial Park for nearly 60 years — soon, they’ll be reunited once again.”
Built in 1942, steam locomotive No. 576 served the region and the country by hauling troop and supply trains during the mobilization for World War II. While in the park, it served as a backdrop for more than a dozen album covers and appeared alongside Johnny Cash on the cover of Life magazine in 1969. In 2019, No. 576 was relocated from Centennial Park and moved to the Tennessee Central Railway Museum, where it has been undergoing an extensive, multi-year restoration powered by a dedicated network of local and national donors and volunteers. The locomotive passed the Federal Railroad Administration’s required hydrostatic test of the boiler in September 2025. It is now in the final stages of mechanical work and is being readied for its first steam trial, anticipated for later this summer.
To help preserve an incredible piece of Tennessee railroading history, click here to donate or mail your contribution to:
Nashville Steam
220 Willow St
Nashville, TN 37210
